‘DUCKLINGS AND WISTERIA’, BY LOU SHIBAI (1918-2010)China. Ink and watercolors on paper, with a silk brocade frame and mounted as a hanging scroll. Depicting three ducklings under low-hanging branches of wisteria issuing blue and violet flowers as they curiously examine a fallen wisteria blossom.Inscriptions: Top right, inscribed ‘Spring is in full swing’, signed ‘Lou Shibai’. One seal of the artist, ‘Shibai’.Provenance: British trade.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, some foxing, little creasing, and small tears.Dimensions: Image size 92.7 x 50 cm, Size incl. mounting 220.5 x 63.7 cmLou Shibai (1918-2010) was a Chinese painter born in Beijing. He was Qi Baishi’s apprentice for 25 years, learning the arts of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and carving at his master’s home from age 14 until Baishi’s death in 1957. He is considered an important successor of Qi Baishi who nonetheless was innovative in his own themes and techniques.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: China Guardian, Beijing, 15 September 2012, lot 15Price: CNY 184,000 or approx.EUR 32,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: Wisteria and Duck (1984), Lou Shibai (1918-2010)Expert remark:pare the closely related motif and size (103 x 56 cm)Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: China Guardian, Beijing, 17 December 2011, lot 617Price: CNY 97,750 or approx.EUR 17,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: Duck and Wisteria, Lou Shibai (1918-2010)Expert remark:pare the closely related motif and size (97 x 60 cm)婁師白(1918-2010)《春酣》中國，紙本水墨設色，掛軸。三隻小鴨子在紫藤下嬉戲，它們正好奇地審視著一朵凋落的紫藤花。款識：春酣，婁師白並篆；鈴印：師白